Be it known that on this 6th day of August, 2007 the North
American Holy Synod does hereby proclaim that Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh, first
presiding bishop of this Church, is hereby determined and proclaimed to be a
Martyr for the faith.

During his lifetime he suffered at the hands of the ethnic orthodox
jurisdictions in the New World for his faith and his Church and after his death
these same so called ethnic orthodox jurisdictions continued to write about
Archbishop Ofiesh in an unchristian and defamatory manner.

Pertinent to his appointment as head of the new American Church in 1927 until
1933, prior to his marriage, he suffered great mental anguish at the hands of
the Schismatic orthodox jurisdictions who invaded his canonical jurisdiction,
usurped his authority and territory, attempted to steal and did steal his
parishes, accepted his suspended clergy without the required canonical letters,
went to court contrary to the canons to steal the Cathedral from him and refused
to recognize Archbishop Ofiesh, his synod, clergy or the American Church. The
Schism became an open act when in 1929 Archbishop Alexander (Demoglou), the
Greek Archbishop in New York claimed he had authority over not only the Greek
Orthodox but all Orthodox in America. Along with numerous other acts, claims and
statements of many orthodox clearly this was a Schism and violation of the
canons. Then Ecumenical Patriarch Basil III refused to recognize this Church,
our authority or clergy. Gradually all other orthodox jurisdictions including
Metropolitan Platon followed the Ecumenical Patriarch’s lead in this matter.

Today the present Ecumenical Patriarch still appears to be claiming to
preside over all Orthodox worldwide. The Russian Patriarch has denied and
refuted this claim stating all Patriarchates are autocephalous jurisdictions
under the leadership of their own Patriarch. It should also be stated that in
Orthodoxy we do not have a single leader over all as occurs in the Roman
Catholic Church.

The Synod has considered the matter of the Archbishop's marriage in 1933 and
has determined that the marriage has no effect on the cause that led to this
decision since the Schism began years prior to the marriage openly dated as of
1929. The suffering he underwent at the hands of these groups is the basis for
our findings. Also it is clearly stated and agreed by most orthodox
jurisdictions that the canon on married bishops is not a matter of faith, that
it can be changed at anytime and that this canon was not adopted by all
orthodox. Writers from the ethnic jurisdictions have claimed the early synod
members of this Church made statements consistent with the synod not accepting
or adopting the canon related to married bishops but then they make various
claims including that the Archbishop deposed himself by marrying. The marriage
is purely an excuse used by the Schismatics for the acts that occured long
before the marriage.

To re-enforce this Schism the Moscow Patriarchate, our Mother Church,
established a second American Church to replace us which we consider a further
act of Schism. First they abandoned us then they attempt to replace us.

We Hereby declare and proclaim Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh a Martyr! He
would not bow down to the greed, power and usurped authority of the unchristian
ethnic groups and he suffered at their hands.

Feast Day - July 24th

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A Martyr is generally considered a person murdered for their faith but
another acceptable meaning of “Martyr” is one who “endures great suffering or
hardship” or “who undergoes severe or constant suffering” for any
belief,principle or cause. It is clear that this is the case in regards
to the life of Archbishop Ofiesh. The fact he continued to dress as a bishop, as
conceded by members of the ethnic jurisdictions, demonstrates that he was still
a bishop and head of this Church until his death on July 24, 1966.

NOTE: The Synod had been considering this matter for a long time and the
vote was taken at this time due to the continued unchristian efforts of some
clergy from the ethnic jurisdictions who continue to rewrite history, publish
untrue assumptions and claims about former clergy and claim our name is
"misleading" in an effort to claim we are not who we are and to discredit us.